The 'Eva Mai Tonga Tourism Experience, a tourism promotion event, showcasing what the Tongan tourism industry has to offer to overseas tour wholesalers, tour operators and visitors, was officially launched by the Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele at Pangai Lahi, Nuku'alofa on March 2.

The Prime Minister expressed his sincere appreciation to members of the Tonga Tourist Association for their vision to initiate the event, and he was optimism of some "tangible outcome" following this inaugural launching.

Dr Sevele informed the gathering of the latest move by government to strengthen the structure of the Ministry of Tourism, with the appointment of a new CEO, Sakopo Lolohea, and a manager who had been appointed but has yet to join the ministry.

The other good news for the Tonga Tourism Industry is that negotiation is underway at the ministerial level between the Prime Ministers of Tonga and Samoa, and the Foreign Minister of New Zealand for the continuation of the Air New Zealand service to Los Angeles via Tonga and Samoa, and return on the same route to Auckland.

He said that initially Air New Zealand demanded a subsidy of $4.5 million from Tonga and Samoa or they would terminate the service at the end of April, but an on-going negotiation with the New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs there is a hope to extend the service for another six to twelve months.

Dr Feleti Sevele explained that Air New Zealand is demanding that 80 per cent of the seats of its Los Angeles service are filled. At the moment flights are only 70 per cent full, and if Tonga and Samoa cannot subsidize the service Air New Zealand will terminate it at the end of April.

The Prime Minister said that government used only Air New Zealand for the traveling of civil servants overseas, and he pleaded with Tongans and overseas travelers to use Air New Zealand in order to extend the Air New Zealand Auckland/Los Angeles via Tonga and Samoa service to extend longer than the six to twelve month extension that is currently being negotiated.

Saia Moehau, the president of the Tonga Tourism Association (TTA) was very pleased that they had launched their campaign to promote tourism in Tonga, and he was optimistic that this annual event will grow.

Representatives from two wholesale operators in Australia were attending, "and there are also tour operators from the USA and New Zealand." Attending also for inauguration of 'Eva Mai were representatives of the TTA in Australia, and the USA.

The inaugural launching of the 'Eva Mai Tonga Tourism Experience was attended by cabinet ministers, the ambassador of China and the Acting Ambassador of Japan, and representatives of the Tonga Tourist Association and tourism facilities operators from 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u and the Niuas. The six-day event which started yesterday, March 1 will end on Saturday, March 6.